The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1887-12-02
A TRAGIC INCIDENT.
A Young Man, With q BrOk en-
Heart, Who Sang "Annie
Laurie" and Then
Expired.

hS hONNag oOhSt AhhtC A4huilN9
admired the world over for the
beautiful simplicity of its words, it's
easy, flowing aud expressive melo-
dy, has lately received an addition.
al impetus to its popularity by the
following incident said to have oc-
cuwed in Nashville:
A small select company had as
sembled in pleasant parlOr, and
were gayly chatting and laughing
when Il tall Yonng mau entered,
whose peculiar face and air in
stantly- arrested their attention.
He was very pale, with that clear,
vivid complexion which dark hair
ed consumptives so often have. His
locks were as black as jet, and
hung profusely upon square white
collar. His eyes were large and
spiritual, and his brow such one
as poets should have. But for a
certain wandering look, casual
observer would have pronounced
him "a man of uncommon intel
lectual powers. The words "Po0r
fellow aud "How sad be looks"
went the rounds as he came for
ward, bowed to the company aud
took his seat. Que or two thought
less girls laughed as they whisper
ed that he was Glove -cracked,n but
the rest treated him with respect
ful Difference.
1t was late in the evening when
singing was proposed, and TO ask
bin to sing ''Annie laurie" was a
task or uncommon deliCacy. ODe
song after another was sung, and at
last 0ue was named. AT its men
ton the young man grew deadly
pale, but did not speak ; he seemed
10 he instantly lost in reverie.
"rhe name of the gtl who treat
ed him so badly was Aunie," said Il
lady, whispering to new guest
"buU oh | wish he would sing III;
nobody else can do ii justice p
"No one dares sing Anni0 Laurie
before you, Charles" said an elder
" lady "wonld it be too much to
ask YOU to favor the company with
it Z" she added timidly.
He did not reply for "A moment
bis lips quiverpd a little, aud then
looking up as if he saw spiritual
pl essence, he began. Every sound
was hushed-it seemed aS if his
voice were the voice Of an angel.
The tones vibrated through nerve
aud pulse aud heart, and made one
shiver with the palhoS OF his feel
ings; never was heard melody in Il
human voice like thdt--so plain
tive, so sOulful-so tender and
earnest.
He sat with his head thrown
back, his eyes half-closed-tbe
locks of his dark hair alisleniug
against his pale temples, his hands
lightly folded before him; and as
he sung through the following
stanzas he seemed to shake from
head to foot with hra"t-rending en-
Oti0n:
Marvellous banks are bouny,
Where early falls the dew;
And twas there that Annie Laurie
Gave me her promise true
Gave me her promise true,
And meier forget will /,
But for bonuie Anne Laurie
III lay me down and die.
Her brow is like the snowdrtt.
HeI throat is like tho swan,
Her features are the falrest
That e'er the sun shone on
That e'er the sun shone on,
And dark blue is her eye,
And for bonnie Annie Laurie
I'd lay me down and die.
Like dew on the gowan lying
Is the fa' O. her fairy feet,
And like the winds in summersighing,
Her voice is low and sweet
Her voice is low and sweet,
And she's all the world to ne,
Aud for bonnie Annie Laurie
I'd lay me down and die.
As he proceeeded from line to
line aud verse 10 verse there was
No more testing among tue eompa-
ny; all was hushed as ii by the ST.
lence OF death. Many a lip trem-
bled aud but few eyes but were wet
with the tears Of spontaneous pity
and compassion.
When finishing the last verse he
made a slight pause, gazed with a
searching, longing expression about
the room, gasped forth
And for bonnie Annie Laurie,
I'd lay me down aud die,
and slowly dropped his head back
ward over the chair. The black
locks seemed TO grow blaeker, the
White temples whittier, and the
white lustr0us eyes to slowly close
With inexpressihle and torturing
anguish.
There was long aud solemn
pause. One glanced az another
all spemed awe-siTuck-till the lady
who bad urged him to sing laid her
hand gently on bis shoulder say
ing:
~Cbarlesl Cbarlesg7
Then came hush, a thTin Ol
horror crept through every lrame,
the poor tired heart had ceased tC
beat.
charles fha love .f,afr,xea ,..s